Trouble at Mille Lacs

[Guest]

Saterday morning my son and myself headed for Mille Lacs for the weekend. We were'nt
expecting a lot of fish as we heard the fishing has been slow. When we got to the resort that we had chosen to go out of we got quite a suprise when we were told that we would not be allowed on their access because we had "wheel-houses". (we both were pulling houses with retractable crank-up wheels)We left and ended up at The Red-door
on the north end. Very nice and helpful people. They let us on with no problem.
I hear all the time about how rough the resort owners have it and really do try to spend my dollars to suport the small business owner but if they don't want my money thats their decision. Anyone else have this happen to them? What is the issue with "wheel-houses"?
seeyainthewoods---bowhunter

[Guest]

They can damage bridges so the owners of the resorts like to pull them out for you, Did they not offer to do this?

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MILLE LACS AREA GUIDE SERVICE
651-271-5459 http://fishingminnesota.com/millelacsguide/
click here

[This message has been edited by D-man (edited 01-05-2003).]

[Poutmaster]

I don't know what the issue is with not letting the "wheel houses" out, but I second your opinion on the folks at the RED DOOR. They run a clean, friendly, class act place!

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Flag Up!

[Guest]

No offer was made to pull my house there was no bridge on the shoreline- thats not to say that there was'nt one out farther.
There was a bridge on the shoreline at the
Red-door and owner sent one of his guys down
to make sure we got over ok. I was told at the 1st resort that only seasonal customers
can bring a "wheelhouse" on his access.
Well the reason I bought the house is so I
have the ability to fish more the 1 lake.
Between myself and my son we have about $12,000 invested in our houses. (this was the maiden trip for his house) My gut feeling is this has nothing to do with tearing up bridges. We were willing to pay $38 to use his access for 24 hours of fishing but my money is not wanted at this resort because of the type of fish house I chose to own.

[This message has been edited by bowhunter (edited 01-05-2003).]

[Grabs]

There are some resorts that have the mentality that they are or will loose business because of these houses. I think it is crazy and if they step back and look at it they will probably gain to profit.

I say what ever resort you wanted to go out of, forget them! Like you said take your money else where, to a place that appreciates your business.

Not to slander the resort, but more for a heads-up to anyone else who might be going to Mille Lacs, we may want to advise on what resort wouldn't let you out with your house.

[ScoutII]

It probably wasn't Lakeside? When I took my hardside out, they clipped me for my truck and house separtely, I was in my truck alone. The [couple] traveling with me were pulling a trailer with ATV's and were let on the lake for ONE fee. Didn't seem fair to me at the time.

[Marmot]

I believe part of the issue for not allowing large wheeled house relates to ramp/road access fees.

Thousands of fish house owners pay good money to have their houses on Mille Lacs' ice. Then comes along people with their own house on wheels and want to pay a daily ramp/road access because they will only be around for one day.

It is not fair that fish house owners that keep their house permanently at one resort have to pay more than owners who bring their own "permanent" house only for one or two days.

I think charging wheeled house more for daily ramp/road access is only fair. BTW, offering $38 for one day seems fair to me.

Another way to look at it is to see how far these wheeled house would make it at the public landing.

I am not trying to stir the pot rather, offer an observation.

Marmot

[bmg]

I agree. There's a right & wrong way to do business. It's fair to say that more money should be charged for a wheeled house to be driven out onto the lake. To turn somebody away w/ no 'counter-offer' gives a bad impression to the resort. It's hard for me to feel bad for the resorts crying about hard times when some of them can be bad apples (lakeside). On the other hand, it's a lot easer giving my money to good people like fred at the Red Door or Mcquoid's for good service and hospitality.

[Grabs]

Am I hearing you guys right? There should be a separate road access fee for wheeled houses? How so? The guys with permanant houses pay for storage and road access. Every resort has a daily access fee, that fee should be for everyone, why should it matter what kind of house you pull on the lake? How is it any different than if I were to pull up a trailer with a portable on it?

[Walleye Guy]

I agree with Grabs. Why does it matter what type of shelter you fish from? Wheels, no wheels, trailer, no trailer... You are paying the resort for access to the lake and to use the roads that they maintain. I highly doubt a wheeled fish house increases the needs for road maintenace. If a resort is against wheeled houses because they may damage a bridge that is one thing. To be against them because it potentially dips into their fish house rental business is another.

[Pig_sticka]

38 bucks to just get on a lake? u guys nuts. i think 7 bucks is a rip off. why should it matter if someone is bringing out a more permantent house? other people use a portable. just these people spend alittle more to fish in luxery. find a resort that has great people n just keep going there. sounds like the walleyes in mille lacs have something in em that makes people go weird or is it all that country music up there lol

[bmg]

The issue is not just driving on & off the lake. If that were the case I'd agree w/ both previous comments. The issue seems to be the extra 'wear & tear' the added weight of the wheeled fishhouse puts on the ice on & near the access. Most people don't see the kind of work that has to be done by the resort when bridges get knocked crooked, when ice breaks up and a new access has to be 'made'. Pulling these heavy fishhouses increases the chances the access will break up sooner rather than later. These fishhouses are much heavier than a snowmobile trailer and especially heavier than a portable, that is where the issue is.

[Guest]

No one is forcing those seasonal people to keep there houses on the Mille Lacs, that's there choice. They are just as capable as the next to buy a wheeled house. Why should someone with a wheeled house have to pay more for access. If you want to stay at a certain resort year after year, where all you have to do is drive up and walla, then that's your choice. As far as I'm concerned that's the price you pay for convience!

[Grabs]

Sorry but these wheeled houses are some of the lightest houses on the lake! That's why mine is the first one on the lake with 7".

Bottom line,..there are plenty of resort who appreciate the business. Like others have mentioned, find them and get to know them, spend your money where its wanted.

[fishnutbob]

Grabs is right on. Resorts that pull perm. houses out weight more than a house on wheels,the perm house would do more damage to the bridge rubber wheels do nothing.The resorts are just having a tuff time with few customers with the bad bite, but if a resort cators to all who visit someday they just might put a perm house there. as in repeat customers or word of mouth. I like to spend my money with someone who works for my business no matter how much I spend because next time I just might drop a bundle with him. Fun is what its all about a bad day of fishing beats a good day at work. Good fishing and good fellowship

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Advanced Angler& guide

[Dave]

Two ATVs on a trailer weigh more than ~ most ~ trailerable fish houses.

[ScoutII]

That's right my house's weight is 1200#'s. I know weight isn't the issue here. I am sure resorter was bumbed he didn't rent a house. The truck I pull the house with weighs in at 8,000#'s now that is serious weight. But try and follow me when I get that truck rolling, you better have a snowmobile. We know resort owners can't or won't be responsible if your house is broken into, so much for that topic. If your house dosen't stay behind it will not be broken into. And another thing is if I drive many hours to go to a fishing spot, I want to fish, not worry about wind or cold. When crossing a bridge, if the bridge isn't wide enough for the trailer wheels, the frame is made of steel tubing and should slide [smoothly] along the top rail of the bridge. If someone can't grind down a weld so I snag on the bridge it is also my loss. I figure if the resort owner can drag a permanant across the bridge, I should be able to make with my hardside. I don't think they fix the bridges after each and every house they move across. Bottom line is it is all because of money!!!!

[Dave]

I was going to include, maybe a reasonable fee, like an extra access fee if you're going to stay overnight. I don't know what the resorts access fees are.....

[Grabs]

They charge a daily road access fee, which means that if you pull your house on the lake today and don't plan on coming off until tomorrow you need to pay for 2 days.

Better yet, if you fish enough weekends a $100 season pass is very reasonable, and will get you a road plowed to your house too.

[Guest]

Guess i should have said more. If a resort wants to charge more for access fees for a house on wheels, then i guess that's what they can do, you can choose other places to go. Most resorts that have bridges, will want to pull your house out for you. When i worked the ice, we never let anyone with any kind of house pull across the bridges. It may take a full day with three guys and two trucks to get the bridge where you want it.We had a guy with a house on wheels that paid the 7.00 access fee. We told him if you want to cross the bridge, let us know and we can hook up and bring it across for you. He said ok, and we didnt even charge an extra fee. Later that afternoon a guy came into the resort and said there was a house stuck on the bridge. We went out there and it was the guy with the house on wheels and he didnt hit it straight on and the left wheel had caught on the side of the bridge. Three guys,a tow truck and a floor jack later, we got it unstuck with a line of people watching. Under that bridge is open water and it could have been alot worse.

Its not about weight or treating people with wheesl different, but you may see that and you can choose to go to another resort.

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MILLE LACS AREA GUIDE SERVICE
651-271-5459 http://fishingminnesota.com/millelacsguide/
click here

[Guest]

Hey guys,

I want all of you to know how much I have enjoyed your replies to my posting. Every-one had a lot of great points. I am new to this board in fact I registered just to vent on this subject. I will be a regular for sure in the future. I did'nt mean to bash resort owners in general-The Red Door people could not have been more helpful. A real class act.

Seeyainthewoods---bowhunter

[kooba]

I would have to agree with ScoutII. We fishherman and women should not be penalized for the type of fish house we own. It is all about money and greed. I am the new owner of a fish house on wheels and plan on fishing lake Mille Lacs on a few weekends. But don't want to get stuck paying a high price just to put my house out. I could just as well rent a motel for the price some of the Resorts want. Lets be reasonable here. I am not affraid to pay money for a good time. But 38.00? Thats outragous. I am new at this and will probably pay the fees cause I want to fish on a lake that is well known for it's walley pop.. That my problem. Maybe something will change with all of the people buying fish houses on wheels. KOOBA

[bmg]

d-man's right and he hit on the point I was trying to make earlier. it's that most people don't see the kind of work that goes into maining a road & especially maintaining a bridge. if the bridge gets knocked crooked, now the resort has to bring all their people back to fix it. if/when that happens, how many $7 daily passes must the resort sell to compensate for the time, effort, lost business, pain in the #!@ to make it worthwhile? D-man also pointed out that all this work takes place over open water between the ice heave. there's a good chance the ice around the bridge can break open.

[Ice Hole]

Screw it, I go out of the public access whenever I can and then use the already plowed roads. You can't do it every year, but more often than not you can. I am sick of the greedy, whinning, resort owners. There are some better than others, but I have been burned too many times and just don't care anymore. Once I am on the Lake I am on public property. I am not willing to pay 7-10$ to be treated like sh!t and threatened. (coughs...Lakeside...)